Representing the 17th District of New York

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Lowey Statement on 91 Percent Increase in Anti-Semitic Incidents in New York

February 28, 2018

Press Release

WHITE PLAINS, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee and a co-chair of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, issued the following statement on the release of an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report showing a 91 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in New York between 2016 and 2017:

“This surge in anti-Semitic incidents is deplorable and unacceptable, and must be rooted out of our society, along with all other forms of bigotry, xenophobia, and hate. Anti-Semitic vandalism, threats, and violence do not reflect the values of the vast majority of New Yorkers, who must stand together and speak out to uphold tolerance and acceptance, and to reverse this trend of harassment and intimidation.”

According to the ADL, there were 18 incidents of Anti-Semitism in Westchester in 2017 and 12 incidents in Rockland. Nationally, the ADL stated that the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. surged 57 percent during the same time period.